Page 94 of Cup of Lies

The phone starts ringing again. Because I have nothing better to do, I answer it. At least if I stay angry, it cuts through the haze and confusion.

“Let me the hell out of here,” I growl. “You know it’s only a matter of time before they come looking for me. You can’t fight them all, Dad.”

“I’m not your dad,” she says tearfully. “You have to believe me. I’m here.”

“You’re not my sister.” I clench my jaw. “If you’re real, put Dad on the phone.”

The line goes dead.

Not real.

Not fucking real.

I pace the room, but because of the drugs still in my system, I walk uneven lines and bump into furniture. I’m tired as fuck, but I know if I lie back down, I am just asking for something bad to happen. I need to stay alert and figure out an escape plan.

Last time, there was no escape.

My only escape was through Dad.

I had to bend the knee and kiss his ring. Is that what he wants? For me to go back to being his blindly loyal son?

The phone starts ringing again. I try to ignore it, but it won’t stop. Just ringing and ringing and ringing. It’s so fucking annoying. I’m half tempted to yank the cord from the wall and throw it in the trash can.

With a frustrated growl, I stalk back over to it and answer.

“You want me, Dad, fine. Let me out. We’ll talk this out like real men. Maybe there’s a future where we both get what we want.”

It’s a lie, but I have to try.

“Caius,” she sobs, sounding realer than any artificial intelligence I’ve ever heard. “Please come save me.”

“You’re not real, Calista,” I hiss. “None of this is real.”

Another sob and then she shouts, “I am LuLu!”

The line goes dead.

And, suddenly, I’m really fucking awake.

Romy

They’re taking too long.

Something happened.

I shoot another text to Theo since Caius isn’t responding.

Me: What’s going on? Caius won’t reply.

Theo: I don’t know. I’m almost done here and then I’ll go check.

His answer unnerves me. The whole plan Caius came up with was stressful to me. I can’t do anything but worry. I push my phone toward Koyn and start mashing puzzle pieces into place. He picks it up and reads the texts.

“Hmm.”

“Dude,” Nees says from beside me. “You’re like a prodigy or some shit. It’s like you’re in a zone. I don’t even think you’re looking at the pieces.”

We’ve been sitting here for two hours at Caius’s house, in his game room, waiting to be called for backup if necessary. Caius and Theo seemed to think the two of them could handle Orion alone without us. I’m seriously doubting that right now.

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